Prior won't back down from Bonds

SAN FRANCISCO - Mark Prior knows how Barry Bonds works: The slugger hugs the inside of the plate, he even hogs it, and he's got his body armor to protect himself from getting hurt just in case.

Prior pitched inside anyway Thursday.

The Chicago Cubs' starter plunked Bonds in third inning of his team's 5-1 win over San Francisco, causing both benches to clear.

Bonds was hit in the upper right leg on a 1-1 curveball two days after he got hit twice on breaking pitches by Kerry Wood. Bonds began walking to the mound and Prior motioned him on as they exchanged words.

Players came running out of both dugouts. No punches were thrown. Cubs manager Dusty Baker, who managed Bonds on the Giants, reached Bonds and talked to him for several moments and Bonds eventually walked to first. He had homered twice in San Francisco's 5-0 win Wednesday, giving him 621 for his career.

''I respect Barry as a player, as a hitter and obviously what he's done,'' Prior said. ''The inside part of the plate for me, for me to be effective I need it. I was just trying to back him off. He said what he had to say and I said what I had to say. I hold nothing against him. That doesn't mean the next time I face him I'm not going to go right back inside.''

The third and final day of the Dusty Baker Reunion turned testy. The NL Central-leading Cubs took two of three against the Giants.

, who have the best record in the league and are off to their best start in 30 years.

Bonds walked off when asked about it after the game. Baker insisted the Cubs weren't trying to hit Bonds and he told the slugger so.

Home plate umpire Marvin Hudson issued warnings to both teams.

''I'm sure it could have gotten heated. I wasn't going to back down from him at all,'' Prior said. ''Just because he's got 15-20 years in the big leagues and 600 homers and I have been in the league a little under a year doesn't mean I have to stop doing what makes me a professional.''

Prior intentionally walked Bonds in the fifth with Neifi Perez on third, and Mark Guthrie intentionally walked Bonds in the seventh with Ray Durham on third. Bonds also walked in the first.

''I've seen Barry get upset before,'' Baker said. ''I said 'Hey man, we're not trying to hit you.' He knew that, but was frustrated being hit. That ball hurts.''